A Seal Named Sunshine - by Terry Perkins Mitman (Paperback)

About the Book

The true story of a seal pup found on the beach at the author's home, rescued and rehabilitated by Marine Mammals of Maine, and safely released.

Book Synopsis

"It's Saturday on the coast of Maine. Nothing seems unusual, on this side of the seawall. Making the most of a winter thaw, we set out for our morning walk. As we cut across the rocky shore, we spot something extraordinary..."

When Dexxy the gray seal pup came ashore in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, during a winter storm in 2023, a Facebook post shared by the local police garnered him national and international attention. A Seal Named Sunshine tells the story of the other, less-famous gray seal pup that was released along with Dexxy three months later. She is named, fittingly, Sunshine.

In this firsthand account with hand-drawn illustrations, Terry Perkins Mitman tells Sunshine's

story, from her quiet discovery just beyond the seawall in the author's front yard, through her rescue and rehabilitation under round-the-clock care from Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME), to her eventual release back to the sea. This uplifting tale also offers vital information about stranded seal care-especially what to do and what not to do. The story concludes with a photo gallery of Sunshine and informational pages about MMoME.

A Seal Named Sunshine is a reminder of the delicate balance, gritty resilience, and deep joy to be found and nurtured in the world we all share.

Review Quotes

"It is very heartwarming to have Terry capture the story about the seals our team cares for. We feel fortunate that she is sharing our hard work with children, who will grow up loving our marine wildlife just as much as we do."

-Lynda Doughty, Founding Executive Director of Marine Mammals of Maine (MMOME)